Unable to send data to printer

[JohnnyP]

I'm running High Sierra 10.13.6 on a mid 2011 imac, connected to an HP J4580.

The printer has been working great for many years but I now have to restart the Mac after every print job. Otherwise, I get the dreaded "unable to send data to printer" dialog.

I went to the HP forum and found a "solution" for that which is a driver (5.1.1 I think), but it didn't fix it. The download page says 10.14 required, but it installed with no issues.

I would scrap it but I just installed new ink cartridges, about $40 each.

 

[badshoehabit]

Re-install?

 

[JohnnyP]

The install disk for the Mac says Snow Leopard. I upgraded to High Sierra online.

The install disk for the HP J4500 series printer says Mac 10.3, 10.4, 10.5. Should I install that?

 

[MacInWin]

How is it "connected" to the iMac? Cable, WiFI?

 

[JohnnyP]

USB cable

 

[MacInWin]

Curious. Try an SMC reset and if that doesn't fix it, try another cable. Something has changed in the setup.

The download page says 10.14 required, but it installed with no issues.

But if it's assuming you have 10.14, it may be expecting something in 10.14 that is NOT in 10.13.6. The fact it installed is immaterial.

 

[JohnnyP]

Ok, I reset the SMC by:
Shutting down
Disconnecting the AC cable
Waiting 15 seconds
Reconnecting the AC cable
Waiting five seconds
Powering back on

I will try printing and post the results, then change the USB cable if the problem persists.

The OP on the HP forum had a tag that says 10.12, which was noted by the HP tech that posted the link to the download page:

Cannot print with HP Officejet J4580 with macOS Sierra

I´ve installed the new macOS Sierra and since then I cannot print with my HP Officejet J4580. I reinstalled it several times and sometimes it doesn´t print at all and other times it prints only the beginning of the page. The message error I get is "unable to send data to printer" Can you help...

h30434.www3.hp.com

 

[JohnnyP]

So far so good, thanks extremely much.

I was able to print documents from three different applications.

 

[pm-r]

So far so good, thanks extremely much.

I was able to print documents from three different applications.

Good news and good to hear.

I assume you now no longer have to restart the Mac after every print job???


- Patrick
=======

 

[JohnnyP]

Still working. I just printed the email notification. I would say it's solved.

 

[pm-r]

Still working. I just printed the email notification. I would say it's solved.

Good show, well done.

Maybe give Jake a thumbs up for the SMC reset suggestion.

Once again a restart, even if done on steroids, seems to be able to fix many things. ;-)



- Patrick
=======

 

[JohnnyP]

Thumbs up given.

I went to the HP forum but couldn't find a reply button, so I left feedback, saying their suggestion didn't work, but "MacInWin" solved it for me. I left a link to this thread. But it's feedback and is not visible in the thread.

 

[pm-r]

but "MacInWin" solved it for me. I left a link to this thread. But it's feedback and is not visible in the thread.

Oh you can be sure it's there and showing, which is very nice thank you as the screenshot will show:




- Patrick
=======

 

[JohnnyP]

Where, please, are you looking? On the HP forum? I can't see anything I posted.

 

[pm-r]

Where, please, are you looking? On the HP forum? I can't see anything I posted.

Right here on the Mac-forums site, and specifically on Jake's post #6 here:

Unable to send data to printer

I'm running High Sierra 10.13.6 on a mid 2011 imac, connected to an HP J4580. The printer has been working great for many years but I now have to restart the Mac after every print job. Otherwise, I get the dreaded "unable to send data to printer" dialog. I went to the HP forum and found a...

www.mac-forums.com

My apologies if I misunderstood you.


- Patrick
=======

 

[JohnnyP]

Ok, I thought you could see the feedback I left on the HP forum. I guess the only ones that can see the real solution are the webmasters over there.